Disneyland celebrates the country's 250th birthday in 2026

[mickEblu]

So the question remains, whether Sam from Muppets or Sam from Americas Sings or even Sam from the 1984 Olympics which was designed by Disney (who knew Disney had that many eagle characters named Sam), again are any in the public consciousness for celebrations like this? Also when was the last time that Disney trotted out Sam from America Sings in any meaningful way? 1990s?

I’m not sure about the public consciousness but I know Disney mines nostalgia for various things including merch so it’s not outside the realm of possibility.

 

[Disney Irish]

I’m not sure about the public consciousness but I know Disney mines nostalgia for various things including merch so it’s not outside the realm of possibility.

Out of the realm of possibilities, no of course not. But a fail if it doesn't happen, also no in my opinion.

 

[mickEblu]

Out of the realm of possibilities, no of course not. But a fail if it doesn't happen, also no in my opinion.

It’s obviously just a figure of speech.

 

[MK-fan]

So currently we Have Soarin’ Over California until July this and let's say Soarin’ Across America lasts maybe a year, a year and a half at most. Does anyone think it’s possible that while “Over the Horizon” is out of commission for one and a half to two years, imagineering creates a new Soarin’ Over California to replace our current criticized one?

 

[Disney Irish]

So currently we Have Soarin’ Over California until July this and let's say Soarin’ Across America lasts maybe a year, a year and a half at most. Does anyone think it’s possible that while “Over the Horizon” is out of commission for one and a half to two years, imagineering creates a new Soarin’ Over California to replace our current criticized one?

My guess, probably not. Last year was the 175th of California being a state, if they hadn't done it then I won't think they would do something new for awhile. Maybe 2030 for the 180th?

 

[PiratesMansion]

I still don't understand how some people think Disney's just going to spend money on a new Soarin' film and is ok with it lasting for only a year or so cause Murrica has a slightly fancy birthday or something.

Do you spend millions of dollars more than usual because it will be an especially red, white, and blue year? No? So why would it be different for big corporations that can already be notoriously stingy with money?

That's not how Disney works, nor has worked in that way for some time.

If they're spending money on it, they're going to expect it to be here awhile. And if they feel like their Chinese or Japanese audiences are unlikely to be seriously interested, or won't be interested in awhile if ever (the lines the World version got in Shanghai were insane & they're getting a third theater, and I don't hear that Tokyo's version has gotten any less popular), that puts all the more pressure on the new film to perform at the domestic parks so that they get a return on their investment.

RE: "current criticized" SOC-other than a few people who have said they feel the original film is dated, is there/has there really been that much criticism towards the California version? Maybe I missed it over the years, perhaps it's my personal pro-SOC bias, but I seem to remember significantly more complaints about the CG, fake animals, and since-rectified bendy Eiffel Tower of the World version than the California version.

 

[Disney Irish]

If anything here in DCA, California, World, and the new America versions of Soarin' will likely be in some rotation after the year (or so) of the America version being the primary show. Maybe they switch it out every 4 months or something.

 

[Nirya]

I wouldn't be surprised if they phased out World at DCA and made that one an Epcot-exclusive while California remained a DCA-exclusive. Then they'd rotate with the new America version from that point on.

 

[mickEblu]

I still don't understand how some people think Disney's just going to spend money on a new Soarin' film and is ok with it lasting for only a year or so cause Murrica has a slightly fancy birthday or something.

Do you spend millions of dollars more than usual because it will be an especially red, white, and blue year? No? So why would it be different for big corporations that can already be notoriously stingy with money?

That's not how Disney works, nor has worked in that way for some time.

If they're spending money on it, they're going to expect it to be here awhile. And if they feel like their Chinese or Japanese audiences are unlikely to be seriously interested, or won't be interested in awhile if ever (the lines the World version got in Shanghai were insane & they're getting a third theater, and I don't hear that Tokyo's version has gotten any less popular), that puts all the more pressure on the new film to perform at the domestic parks so that they get a return on their investment.

RE: "current criticized" SOC-other than a few people who have said they feel the original film is dated, is there/has there really been that much criticism towards the California version? Maybe I missed it over the years, perhaps it's my personal pro-SOC bias, but I seem to remember significantly more complaints about the CG, fake animals, and since-rectified bendy Eiffel Tower of the World version than the California version.

No there hasn’t been that much criticism towards Soarin California version as it currently only plays a couple months out of the year and is still the far superior version of the two. Even with the image quality lacking I’d still rather ride Soarin over California over Soarin Around the World. Now if Soarin across America feels like a spiritual successor to California then I could easily see that becoming my new favorite considering the image quality should blow California away. With that said I’d like to see them do what they can to fix the image on SOC even if it just continues to come back for limited time events. Was pretty dim n grainy last time I rode.

Disclaimer: I rarely ride this ride so it’s hard to compare the visual quality between the two versions. A lot of time between my last World and last California ride. For all I know World’s image quality could be nearly as bad and it’s more of an overall theatre/ screen/ projection issue and not necessarily just the film itself.

 

[waltography]

FWIW, I rode California recently and just about teared up again, so it's still doing its magic on me. Obviously not as crisp as it used to be when it was on film, but still great. Would love to see a remastered version, of course, but perhaps I'll come to regret that wish if they try to do so through an AI upscale.

 

[britain]

I still don't understand how some people think Disney's just going to spend money on a new Soarin' film and is ok with it lasting for only a year or so cause Murrica has a slightly fancy birthday or something.

Do you spend millions of dollars more than usual because it will be an especially red, white, and blue year? No? So why would it be different for big corporations that can already be notoriously stingy with money?

That's not how Disney works, nor has worked in that way for some time.

If they're spending money on it, they're going to expect it to be here awhile. And if they feel like their Chinese or Japanese audiences are unlikely to be seriously interested, or won't be interested in awhile if ever (the lines the World version got in Shanghai were insane & they're getting a third theater, and I don't hear that Tokyo's version has gotten any less popular), that puts all the more pressure on the new film to perform at the domestic parks so that they get a return on their investment.

RE: "current criticized" SOC-other than a few people who have said they feel the original film is dated, is there/has there really been that much criticism towards the California version? Maybe I missed it over the years, perhaps it's my personal pro-SOC bias, but I seem to remember significantly more complaints about the CG, fake animals, and since-rectified bendy Eiffel Tower of the World version than the California version.

Agreed. These 250th offerings will last about as long as the 200th offerings did (Circle Vision and America Sings) that is, between 10-20 years.

 

[MK-fan]

Agreed. These 250th offerings will last about as long as the 200th offerings did (Circle Vision and America Sings) that is, between 10-20 years.

To be fair, America the Beautiful had already been in the building 16 years prior to the bicentennial and had no plans on going anywhere and America Sings was a little different since it wasn’t as simple as changing the film on the screen. I’m sure Disney wants to pinch every last dime out of their new investment so I’m sure it will be there at least two years, if not much more and who knows, there’s a chance that it might be better than Soarin’ over Cali and becomes a permanent fixture, only time will tell….

 

[britain]

To be fair, America the Beautiful had already been in the building 16 years prior to the bicentennial and had no plans on going anywhere and America Sings was a little different since it wasn’t as simple as changing the film on the screen. I’m sure Disney wants to pinch every last dime out of their new investment so I’m sure it will be there at least two years, if not much more and who knows, there’s a chance that it might be better than Soarin’ over Cali and becomes a permanent fixture, only time will tell….

Hmm... when was American Journeys added to CircleVision then?

 

[MK-fan]

Hmm... when was American Journeys added to CircleVision then?

American Journeys was added in 1984 and played at night while Epcot’s Wonders of China film played during the day. Journeys was probably ushered in because Disney was been busy making four other Circle-Vision films within the last two years.

 

[britain]

American Journeys was added in 1984 and played at night while Epcot’s Wonders of China film played during the day. Journeys was probably ushered in because Disney was been busy making four other Circle-Vision films within the last two years.

I see, thanks. I thought it was a bicentennial addition. My bad.

 

[MK-fan]

I see, thanks. I thought it was a bicentennial addition. My bad.

I think it’s pretty amazing that Disney went all in for Disney’s bicentennial with such a heavy investment like “America Sings”. Seems like they wanted something in that building fast after COP was repackaged for WDW and the anniversary was right around the corner. By no means was it cheap i’m sure and it was the first major Disney attraction with absolutely no involvement from Walt Disney so they were taking a huge risk. Unfortunately due to the specialized purpose it was serving, it did get stale with guests pretty quickly.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

American Journeys was added in 1984 and played at night while Epcot’s Wonders of China film played during the day. Journeys was probably ushered in because Disney was been busy making four other Circle-Vision films within the last two years.

They played it in wonders of china? Didn’t tomorrowland have circle vision still then?

 

[MK-fan]

They played it in wonders of china? Didn’t tomorrowland have circle vision still then?

The Disneyland Circle-Vision played two films daily from 1984-1996. The Wonders of China film played during the first half of the day while American Journeys played during the second half of the day.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

The Disneyland Circle-Vision played two films daily from 1984-1996. The Wonders of China film played during the first half of the day while American Journeys played during the second half of the day.

Ah that makes sense!